Improvement in tree-protectors



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

BENJAMIN MERRITT, JR., OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE TO i AMERICAN TREE-PROTECTOR COMPANY.

IMPROVEMENT IN-TREE-PROTECTORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,623, dated November 13, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN MERRITT, J r., of Newton Corner, in the county of Middlesex and State ot' Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tree Protectors; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing, taken in connection with the drawing' which accompanies and forms partof this specieation, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in the detail of the construction patented to me November 15, A. D. 1864, under the number 45,065.

Experience has now shown me that, while one groove such as is shown in my patented device prevents the passage over it oi' the majority of canker-worm grubs, there are yet some of the grubs which are so small that they are enabled bythe shortness of their bodies to pass one groove, which in size is such as to prevent eiieetually the passage of grubs grown to the average size. Grooves of semieircular cross-section, and of such width as will prevent the passage of these small grubs, are so narrow that they can be spanned by the length of the bodies of the large grubs. Therefore to prevent the passage of large, medium, and small grubs, I have devised the combination of two or more grooves of different widths or sizes, substantially semicircular in cross-section so that grubs which from their size are enabled to cross one groove are defeated in their attempts to cross the other groove or grooves, and it is in this combination that the rst part of my invention consists.

In this improved construction, as well as in the beiore-referred-to patented construction, the grooves referred to are made in glass, earthen, or stone ware, or other hard smooth material, in the form of segments of circles, these being held together by a clamp.

In my patented construction referred to the clamp was a circle made of segments of castiron, the cross-section of the segments being L -shaped, and glass or other grooved segment-s rested on the internally-projeeting iiange oil the clamp, the suspending material being held fast between the clamp and the segments thereby surrounding. This constructionprovedsomewhatfaultyrst,because filaments from the edge of the suspending web were directed by the clamp toward the treetrunk and upon the grooved segments, so that the grubs could seize and make bridges of them; and, secondly, because in the crack or joint between the segments and the clamp the grubs could get such a hold as to assist them in passing the protector.

The second part of this invention consists a grasp to aid them in passing the protector.l

The third part of my invention consists in making on the outer vertical edge of the segmenta fillet or bead to be encompassed. by a corresponding formation in the clamp.

The drawing shows in vertical cross-section a tree-protector embodying my present im provements.

a denotes the segments, made of glass or other suitable smooth hard material. b is the close conical web by which the segments a are suspended from the tree-trunk, and c is the clamp which contines theV segments together and holds the exible web b thereunto. In the segments a and concentric therewith are formed grooves of unequal size, two grooves, d and c, being shown, the inner groove, d, being larger than the outer groove, e, and both being as to size and form what I prefer to use in practice.

Grubs of medium or large size in attempting from the base of the tree to ascend it are checked at groove d; but very small grubs, which from their minimum size are enabled to crawl over the concave surface of groove d, are cheeked at groove e, on account of their bodies forming chords longer vin proportion .to the circle of the cross-section of the small groove than they do to the circle of the crosssection of the large groove.

The outward-projecting flange from the segments a is seen at f, and it will be obvious that this will give an outward direction to any filaments of the web b which are not closelyr trimmed off, and that the width between the outer groove and the edge of the flange f is considerable Without crack or joint to afford a chance for the grubs to hold by.

The bead or fillet on the vertical edge of the segments is marked g, and the corresponding formation in the clamp is marked h. It will be obvious how, with the web b between the segments a and the clamp c, the web is made to sustain the Weight of the protector when fastened to a tree-trunk, as shown.

I claiml. The combination of two or :more grooves of unequal size when arranged in the segments clamp c, as seen at h, for the purpose of se l curely holding the parts of the protectorl together.

BENJ. MERRITT, JR.

Witnesses:

J. B. CROSBY, F. GOULD. 

